Private landlords and letting agents

Rights and responsibilities, tenancy agreements, deposit protection scheme and eviction.

If you rent a property to tenants, you have certain rights and responsibilities.

The GOV.UK website has information about:

Property licensing

If you run a private rented house in multiple occupation (HMO), you are required to:

  • apply for and renew a licence
  • meet our licensing conditions
  • provide basic housing standards

Go to houses in multiple occupation

Housing standards

Private landlords and letting agents are legally responsible for providing safe and healthy living conditions for their tenants. 

Homes privately rented to one household

Go to basic standards for homes privately rented to one household

Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs)

Go to basic standards for small houses in multiple occupation

Go to basic standards for large houses in multiple occupation

Housing standards inspections and enforcement

We can take enforcement action against you if you do not follow the law or if you do not provide decent living conditions. 

Go to how we inspect private rented homes

Letting agent redress schemes

All letting agents must belong to a letting agent redress scheme, which manages complaints between tenants and agents.

For more information, go to registering with a redress scheme as a property agent – GOV.UK.